Stapling machine



April -2, 1935.

1 F; M. CASE 1,996,640 STAPLING-MACHIN-E Filed'May 8, 19:51 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' INVENTOR fi/i/ve/s M as:

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 2,1935

PATENT orri cr 1,996,640 s'mrLmG MACHiNE Francis M. Case, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to I The J. C. Ulmer Company, Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application May a, 1931, Serial No. 535,845

12' Claims.-

' This invention relates to improvements in portable, hand-operated stapling machines and has for its general object the provision of a stapling machine of improved construction throughout, the present machine being exceptlonally strong and sturdy, quite easy to handle and operate, highly emcient in use, and of very simple and inexpensive construction More detailed objects of the present invention will appear from the following description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the-present improved stapling machine; Fig. 2 isla front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing themacln'ne in condition for loading, the staple locking member being in inoperative canon-locking position; Fig. 4 is a detail hori-' zontal sectional view on. the line t-t, Fig. 1, but with the staple follower in a slightly different position than in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is'a view similar to Fig. i but showing another ition of the parts; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig; l but with the casing cover plate member removed and with another part broken away to show interior con=- struction and with some parts in section; Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line l--'l, Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view onthe line 8-8 Fig. 1; and Fig. 9 is a perspec: tive view of the staple follower. I

The machine shown in the drawings includes a suitable casing made up of or comprising two one-piece cast metal members, a main casing. member 8 and a side cover plate member 2. Said main casing member includes a side wall portion 3 provided with a longitudinally extending and generally horizontally. disposed hand open' ing 6. At the top of said side portion isv a laterally extending casing top wall flanged inclined slightly to the horizontal and terminating or merging at its rear end in a vertically disposed, depending casing rear wall flange i. Y The casing top wall flange 6 does not extend clear to the front of the casing side wall portion 3 but termi nates slightly rearwardly thereof and at the point where said flange terminatesthere is a laterally extending, vertically disposed partition flange 3. At the front of the casing side wall portion 8 is a laterally extending, vertically dis posed casing front wall flange I0 parallel with and of the same length as the partition flange 9 to'the rear thereof. Said front wall flange and said partition flange extend from the top of the casing side wall portion 3 almost to the bottom thereof. Extending continuously around the when said cover plate member is secured hand opening t is an inwardly projecting flange I2 and a short distance above the bottom ,edge of the casing side 'wall portion 3 and extendingfrom the casing rear wall flange I almost to the vertically disposed partition flange lz nearthe front 5 of said casing side wall portion is a generally horizontal, relatively narrow partition flange I3.

The main casing member is therefore provided with three recesses or chambers, a generally horizontally, disposed main recess surrounding the 10 hand opening flange l2 and lying below the top wall flange 6, above the horizontal partition I flange it, in front of the rear wall flange l and behind the vertically disposed partition flange e;

a vertically disposed recess it between the casing 15 front wall flange I0 and the vertical partition flange 9 at the rear thereof; and a horizontally extending recess i'l belowthe horizontally disposed partition flange id. v

The casing side cover plate member 2 is 'of such size and shape as to just cover the recesses and it of the main casing member 0. An opening 6 in the main casing member is provided in the casing cover plate member, and

26 to the main casing member, as in Fig. i, said openings 4 and 26) register with each other and thus provide a through hand opening in the casing of the present machine. The case ing cover plate member is secured to the main casing member, with said cover plate member engaging the inner edges of the wall flanges 6, l and it and the'vertical partition flange 9 of the main casing member, by screws 2! extending through the casing cover plate member and secured in lugs 22 with which the main casing member is provided within its main recess l5.

Arranged in the horizontally extending bottom recess ll, below the horizontally disposed partition it of the main casing member 8, is a metal bar M forming the base of the machine and adapted to supportingly receive, for sliding movement therealong, strips of staples to be hereinafter described. Said bar is secured to the inner surface of the side wall portion 3 of the main casing-member 4, below the horizontal partition it thereof, by screws 25 and in the present embodiment of the invention, said bar is provided throughout its length with suitably spaced, longitudinally extending grooves 26 to 50 receive tongues 21 extending inwardly from the inner surface of the casing side wall portion 3, as clearly'.shown in Fig. '7. Said bar extends from the casing rear wall flange i almost to'the casing front wall flange Hi, the front end of said barterminatingtotherearoftherearsm'face of saidcasingfront wall fiange iustthe width -of a staple, as will hereinafter appear. The

upper portion a of the bar 24 is of reduced size throughout the entire length of said bar, and it is upon this reduced bar portion that'the strips of staples are slidably mounted.

'l'.he staples used with the present machine laregenerallyofthesameformusedwithlike stapling machines. That is, each staple has a generally flat top portion and two depending, generally parallel pointed leg portions. The

staples are arranged in strips of say, four or five inches long, being temporariLv held in strip formation by a light coating of some suitable adhesive material.

Inl"lgs. 1 and6,astripofstaples l isshown upon the bar 24, said strip of staples straddling the upper reduced portion II of said bar. Said strip of staples is slid upon said bar at the front end thereof and are prevented from escaping therefrom by a suitable locking member here shown-as having a front portion "and two rearwarding extending, generally parallel side portions 88, said locking member being thus of generally U-shape. Said staple locking member is mounted for swinging movement from the horizontal, locking position. shown in Figs. 1. 2

and 8, in which position the front portion 32 of said member extends in front of the front end of the staple supporting bar 24, to the depending, vertical, non-locking .or inoperative position shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

AsbestshowninFigs.-6and8,therearends a: the side portions 83 of the staple locking memher, at the bottom thereof, are mounted upon the ends of apivot pin it extending transversely throughalongitudinallydisposedslotflinthe front end portion of the staple supporting bar dinally extending cavity 30 in the front end por-- tion of the staple supporting bar 24. Said spring at its-rear end abuts the middle portion of the pivot pin II and at its front end abuts the middle portion of a pin ll extending transversely throughthe bar and servingtomaintainsaid springintherecessflinsaidbar.

-Forthepurposeofnormallymovingthestflp of staples III forwardlyalong the bar 24, a suitable follower is mounted on said bar at the rear of said staples, said follower being-normally urged to move forwardly along said bar by a coiled tension spring 43 arranged within the main casing recess II, The follower of the present machine is a one-piece sheet metal member having a top portion ll and two depending, generally. parallel side portions ll and I. Said follower is therefore of generally channel shape like the strip of staples II and also like said staples. straddles the upper reduced portion 28 ofthe staple supporting bar 14. The top portion ll of said follower is provided near its rear end I with a 'rearwardly extending. struck up tongue 48 to which is secured one end of the follower spring. 43. The other, upper end of said spring is secured to a casing stud lying within the casing main recess is substantially above the rear end of the casing hand opening. Said follower spring travels o idler roller '2 arrangedinthecasingmainrecessilinfrontof 'wallportionlof themaincasingmber i.

The follower spring it normally moves the follower forwardly along the staple supporting bar 24, with corresponding movement of the strip of staples, if any, on said bar in front of said follower. For manually moving said follower rearwardly along the bar 24, the outer or exposed side portion. of said follower is provided at its rear end with an outwardly extending tab or flnger piece I.

In order to hold the follower at the rear end of the staple supporting bar 24, to permit a strip of staples to he slid onto said bar at the front end thereof (it being understood, of course, that the staple locking member at the front end of saidbarwillilrsthavetobeswungdownwardly' to non-locking position), the inner, concealed cealed side of the upper reduced portion 28 of the staple supporting bar, said groove extending substantially the full length of said bar but gradually of decreased depth toward the rear end thereof, caused by the tapering .of the rear end portion of the bar-slide which contains said slot,

as clearly shown in Figs-4 and 5.

In order to cause the follower latehing ear I to automatically move into latching position behind the rear end of the staple supporting bar 24 when the follower is moved to the rear end of said bar, a suitable leaf spring is provided at the rear end of said bar, said spring being ar-v ranged in a laterally extending groove II in the outer, exposed side of the upper reduced portion 2| of the staple supporting bar. A pin 68 secures the front end of said spring in said groove and the rear, free end' portion of said spring is provided with an outwardly extending hump it for engagement with the ,outer side portion 48 of the follower when said follower is moved to the rear end of the staple supporting bar. The eifect of this spring is to move the follower outwardly, as in Fig. 5, and hence automatically bring the follower ear l'l into latching position behind the rear end of the staple supporting bar. To unlatch the follower, it is only necessary to push the follower inwardly against the leaf spring and if the follower is then released, it will automatically be drawn forwardly along the staple supporting bar2lbythetensionspringflsecuredtosaid follower. For limiting outward movementof the rear, free end portion of the leaf spring 00, a vertically disposed pin 80 is provided at' the rear end of the groove 8|, as best shown in Fig. 5.

Mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in the casing front recess Ii is the plunger of the present machine. Said plunger includes a hollow body portion HI, of generally square shape in cross section and of a size as to substantially fit the casing recess in which-it moves; A head Ii is provided at the upper end of said plunger body portion and a rubber cap I! is preferably provided for said head, as is usual in hand-operarranged within the hollow body portion of the the staple locking member. Said bridging member is securedto the staple supporting bar, as best shown in Fig. ill, by the pivot pin of the staple locking member and the pin it which holds the spring 18 in the recess I9 in the front end portion. of the staple supporting bar. Also as best shown in Fig. 8, the lower portion of the staple supportind her so, which portion is wider than the upper portion 1% thereof, is cut away slightly at the front end of the ban-so that at this front end,

.the lower portion of bar 24 is but'slightly wider than the upper portion 28 thereof. Suitable space is therefore provided between the side portions ii of the bridgingniember and the sides of the upper reduced portion to of the staple supporting bar for the w go of the staple leg portions and like, suitable space is provided between the top ace of the staple supporting bar and the top portion to of the bridging member for the therebetween of the top-portions of the staples, as best sh in Fig. 3 and as will be 1"." understood. Y Suitably moored to the front wall of the plunger portion iii and movable vertically therewith is sample driving plate member, said driving member being of relatively rd metal and having an upper body portion or oi the some length and width asthat of the front wad of the pi oer i- 1 portion and also having a lower step e driving portion at projecting below the plunger is portion and being of reduced width, specifically, the same width as a staple. In the present embodiment of the invention, the staple driving member is secured to the plunger for movement therewith by means of a forwardly ext nding stud to with which the front wall of the pier ho portion is provided, said stud entering and cooperating-with a, vertically dised slot es, in the body portion d5 of the'staple dri member, best shown in 8.

I To prepare the present stapling machine for i that it is empty of staples, the follower is pulled back to the rear end of the staple supporting bar 2%, where it is automatically held or latched by the follower ear bl projecting bebind the rear end of said bar. The staple looking member at the front end of the staple supporting bar is then downwardly to the depeng, non-locking position shown in Figs. 3 and 6. A strip of staples can now be slid onto the staple supporting bar from the front end thereof, said staples passing .rearwardly along said bar inside of the bridging member on which the plunger'spring i8 is supported. The staple .1 and 6. The spring it normally tendsto move arched outwardly and a forwardly extending bump-like proiectiontd v 3 locking member is then swung upwardly to the horizontal locking position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the follower is released from its position at the rear end of the staple supporting bar. The

follower is either manually moved (or permitted I to be automatically moved under the influenc'e'of its spring 43) forwardly along the staple supporting bar into engagement with the rear end of the strip of staples now on the bar, as shown in Figs.

l0 said follower, and hence the strip of pics in front of said follower, forwardly along the staple supporting bar but the staple locking member at the front end of said bar prevents the escape of said staples.

p The machine is now ready for use. As shown in Fig. 6,-the front staple 02 of the strip of staples- 30 lies in front of or extends beyond the front end of the staple supporting bar it and the front end of the top portion It of the bridging member. The two side walls 8! of the bri member, however, extend forwardly beyond the top por= tion 19 thereof and form side guides as for the staples driven downwardly by the staplev driving portion as of the staple dri member carried 25- by and movable with the i. hinepiunger. Also I as, shown in Fig. 6, this staple drivingmember lies directly above the front staple and by gi 1 the plunger head a descending blow with the hand, the plunger, and hence the staple dri member movable therewith, are driven downwardly and the staple member drives the projecting front staple iinto the ma terial therebelow, all as'will be stood. Since the staples oi the strip 6 together in strip formation by a a coat, the front staple is ey so from the strip and practically none oi the foroeoi or downwardly mo pie vi member is expended in separat the front staple fro the strip.

Upon the completion oi the down movement oithe plunger and the staple driving inber, said parts are 1.1... 1.:- ediately returned to hil (-1 I position by the pier spring it. The strip oi so staples-is advanced or moved forwardly the staple supporting bar by the follower at the rear end thereof, said follower so or under induence oi the so it. Another staple new projects or e xtendsbelow the raised staple v-' ing member, so that the machine is ain 'i fi for another um: operation.

While the premon so .111 is m th W 39 oi the front end porti'oi the staple supporting bar it is gene maintain the staple loc, position, as shown in embodiment oi the i is provided for xi. means comprises a an its upper end outrdly to form n die portion st. {to spring strip is slidably mount at the front ot the casing, being adapted to be moved verho' into and out of locking engagement with the front portion d2 of the pivoted staple lmaiiflli member.- Preferably and as she, the front wall of the staple locking member is provided with pin 99 for limiting down ard movement of the sprlngstrip,allaswlllbereadilyunderstood. Said spring strip is guided in its vertical movement by a pair of guides Ill, one of said guides being formed as a part of the main casingmemher and being located at the intersection of the side wall portion I and the front wall flange II of said member, and the-other of said guides being formed ass part of the casing cover plate member! and'beinglocated atthefrontendof said member. Bald guides are provldedwith vertically disposed grooves to receive the side edges of the spring strip.

In the present embodiment of the invention each of the two side portions CI of the bridging member is provided at the bottom of its front edge with a forwardly extending lip if, said lips providing a support for the front end of the staple locking memberand making it necessary to pull said staple locking member outwardly.

against the compression of spring 38, in order to i enable said staple locking member to clear said lips in moving said staple locking member between locking and non-locking positions.

For limiting forward movement of the. follower of the present stapling machine along the staple vsupporting bar 24 thereof, the outer side portion 36 of said follower is provided near its rear end with an outwardly extending projection ill adapted to engage the rear end of the outer side a front of said follower forwardly along said bar;

said follower being provided at its rear end with a latching projection engaging at all times the baralong which said follower slides and adapted, when said follower is at the rear end of said bar, to project the rear end of said bar 1 and by engming said bar rear end, hold said follower at the rear end of said bar, thereby enabling a strip of staples to be slidably mounted upon said bar at the front end thereof said bar being provided with a longitudinally disposed slot in which moves the latching projection of said follower during movement of said follower along said bar.

2'. In a portable, hand-operated stapling machine, a casing; alongitudlnally disposed bar car-- ried by said casing; a follower mounted on said bar for sliding movement therealong; said bar being adapted to supportlngly receive in front of said follower a strip of staples for sliding movement along said bar; and means normally urging said follower, and hence staples on said bar in front of said follower forwardly along said bar; said follower being provided with a latching projection adapted, when said follower is at the rear end of said bar, to project behind the rear end ofsaidbarandbyengaginssaidbarrearenm.

hold said follower at the rear end of said bar, thereby enabling a strip of staples to be slidably mounted upon said bar at the front end thereof; said bar being provided with a longitudinally disposed slot in which moves the latching projection of said follower during movement of said follower along said bar, the rear end portion of said slotintherearendportionofsaidbarbeingof gradually decreasing depth toward said in rear end a. m a portable, hand-operated stapling machine,acasing; alongitudinallydisposedbarcarriedvby said casing; a follower having a top por-,

tion and two dependingside portions and being mounted on said bar for sliding movement therealong; said bar being adapted to supportlngly receive in front of said follower a generally channelshaped strip of staples for sliding movement along saidbar; andmeansnormallyurgingsaidfollower, and hence staples on said bar in front of said follower forwardly along said bar; one of the side portions of said follower being provided with an inwardly extending latching projection adapted, when said follower last the rear end of said bar, to project inwardly behind the-rear end of said bar and by ensas s said bar rear end, hold said follower at the rear end of said bar, thereby enabling a strip of staples'to be slidably mounted upon said bar at the front end thereof, said bar being provided in one of its-side walls with a longitudinally extending slot in which moves the latching projection vof said follower during movement of said follower along said bar. a v

' 4. In a portable, hand-operated stapling ma.- chine, a casing; a longitudinally disposed bar carried by said casing; a sheet metal follower having a top portion and two depending side portions and being mounted on said bar for sliding movement therealong; said bar being adapted to support-i ingly receive in front of said follower a strip of' staples for sliding movement along said bar; and

a spring connected to said casing and to a lug; struck up from the top portion of said follower,\ said spring normally urging said follower. and" hence staples on said bar in front of said follower, forwardly along said bar; one of the side portions of said follower being provided with an integral, inwardly projecting latching ear adapted, when said follower is at the rear end of said bar, to project inwardly behind the rear end of said bar and by engaging said bar rear end, hold said follower at the rear end of said bar, thereby enabling a strip of staples to be slidably mounted upon mid bar at the front end thereof the other side portion of. said'follower being provided with an integral, outwardly extending ear adapted to be grasped by the machine operator in manually moving said follower along said bar. I

5'. In a portable, hand-operated stapling machine, a casing, a longitudinally disposed bar carried by said casing; a follower moimted on said her for sliding movement therealong; said bar being adapted to supportlngly receive in front of said follower a strip of staples for sliding movement along said bar; means normally urging said follower, and hence staples on said bar in front of said follower forwardly along said bar; said follower being provided with a latching projection extending toward said bar; and spring means for normally urging said locking projection toward said bar when said follower is at the rear end of said bar, whereby when said follower is moved rearwardly along said bar a sufllcient distance to bring the projection of said follower beyond the rear end of said bar, said projection will automatically move behind the rear end of said bar andbyengagingsaidbarrear endwillhold the iillowerinsuch pomtion attherearend'of said 6. In a portable, hand-operated stapling machine, a casing; a longitudinally disposed bar carried by said casing; a follower mounted on bar in front of said follower forwardly along said bar; said follower being provided with a latching projection extending toward said bar; and spring means carried by said bar for normally urging said locking projection toward said bar when said follower is' at the rear end of .said bar,-

' whereby when said follower is moved rearwardly along-said bar a sufficient distance to bring the projection of said follower beyond the rear end of said bar, said projection will automatically move behind the rear end of said bar and by engaging the rear end of said bar will hold the follower in such position at the rear end of said bar.

'7. In a portable, hand-operating stapling machine, a casing; a longitudinally disposed bar carried by said casing; a follower having a top portion and two depending side portions and being mounted on said bar for sliding movement therealong; said bar being adapted to supportingly receive in front of said follower a strip of staples for sliding movement along said bar; means normally urging said follower, and hence staples on said bar in front of said follower forwardly along said bar; one of the side portions of said follower being provided with a latching projection extending inwardly toward said, follower; and spring means arranged between said bar and the other side portion of said follower and adapted,- when said follower is at the rear, end of said bar, to so move said follower with respect to said bar as to move said follower -projection inwardly toward said bar, whereby when said follower is moved rearwardly a sufficient distance along said bar to bring said follower projection beyond the rear end of said bar, said projection under the action of said spring means will move inwardly behind the rear end of said bar and by engaging said bar rear end will hold said follower in such position at the rear end of said bar.

8.- In a portable, hand-operated stapling machine, a casing; a'longitudinally disposed bar carried by said casing; a follower having a top portion and two depending side portions and being mounted on said bar for sliding movement therealong; saidbar being adapted to supportingly receive in front of said follower a strip of staples for sliding movement along said bar; means normally urging said follower, and hence staples on said bar in front of said follower forwardly along said bar; one of the side portions of said follower being provided with a latching projection extending inwardly toward said follower; and spring means carried by said bar and arranged between said bar and the other side portion of said follower and adapted, when said follower is at the rear end of said bar, to so move said follower with respect to said bar as to move said follower projection inwardly toward said bar, whereby when said follower is moved rearwardly a s'ufflcient distance along said bar to bring said follower projection beyond the rear end of said bar, said projection 5 under the action of said spring means will move inwardly behind the rear end of said bar and by engaging said bar rear end will hold said fol-1 lower in such position at the rear end of said bar. 9. In a portable hand-operated stapling ma- -chine,'a casing; a longitudinally disposed bar carried by said casing and adapted to have supported thereon, for sliding movement therealong, a'strip of staples; means normally urging the staples on said'bar to move forwardly along said bar and off of the front end thereof; a staple locking cap member pivotally mounted at the a front end of said bar and adapted when in looking position to prevent staples on the front end portion of said bar from moving forwardly ofi said bar, said cap member being movable longitudinally of said bar; and spring-means directly chine, a casing; a longitudinally disposed barcarried by said casing and adapted to have supported thereon, for sliding movement therealong, a strip of staples; 'means normally urging the staples on said bar to move forwardly along said bar and off of the front end thereof; a staple locking cap member pivotally mounted to said bar at the frontend thereof and adapted when in looking position to extend in front of the front end of said bar and prevent staples on the front end portion of .said bar from moving forwardly off of said bar, said staple locking cap member having movement longitudinally of said bar, and an extension carried by the front end of said bar and underlying the front wall of said staple locking cap member when said member is in looking position.

11. In a portable, hand-operated stapling machine, a casing; a longitudinally disposed bar carried by said casing and adapted to have supported thereon, for sliding movement therealong,

a strip of staples; means normally urging the staples on said bar to move forwardly along said bar and off of the front end thereof; a stapling locking cap member having a front portion and two generally parallel, rearwardly extending side portions; a pivot pin to which the side portions of said cap are connected, said pivotpin extending transversely through, a longitudinally disposed slot in the front end portion of said bar; said cap member, front portion lying in front of the front end of said bar, whereby staples on the front end portion of said bar are prevented from moving forwardly off of said bar;' and spring means for normally maintaining said cap,member in such locking position.

12. In a staple driving machine, a housing having a raceway therein, means for feeding staples to said raceway, a plunger operable to drive staples through said raceway, a block hingedly connected at its lower end to said housing nor-' mally forming one side of said raceway and movable laterally therefrom, and means yieldingly engaging the upper portion of said block and securing it in normal position.

FRANCIS M. case;

when in looking position, having its CERTIFICA'IE' or GORR'EGTLON;

Patent No. 1,996, 640. April 2, 1935. g

' FRANCIS M. CASE. I

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the I above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, second column, line 22, after "An" insert the words opening 20 of the same size and shape as the; and page 2, second column, line 37, for "slide" read side wall; and that -'the said Lgtters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that. the same may conform t0 the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of June, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

